Riverside
Forklift Accident Attorneys

Forklifts are an essential tool at businesses throughout the Inland Empire and across the United States. According to one estimate by the Industrial Truck Association, roughly 4.5 million people in the United States use forklifts across hundreds of different industries. The prevalence of these machines has also led to a surge in serious accidents. Every year, nearly 100 workers are killed in forklift accidents. Another 20,000 are left with serious injuries. 

The forklifts that workers use can weigh anywhere from 9,000 lbs to over 28,000 lbs. Even a low-impact collision can cause serious trauma and necessitate that victims take long periods away from work. It is vital that victims carefully consider all of their legal options. If you’ve been injured in a Riverside forklift accident, the Riverside forklift accident attorneys at Samer Habbas & Associates are here to support you. We are committed to getting accident victims the maximum compensation so that they can focus on their own recovery. You can reach out to us anytime for a risk-free consultation at 949-727-9300.

Common Locations Where Forklifts Are Likely To Be Used in Riverside

Riverside is home to a variety of industries and businesses where forklifts are routinely utilized. In particular, many businesses rely on Riverside to fulfill their logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing needs. All of these operations rely heavily on the use of forklifts. What follows are just a few of the businesses across Riverside County where workers are likely to encounter forklifts.

• Amazon Fulfillment Center: The Amazon Fulfillment Center in Moreno Valley is one of the largest warehouse hubs across the Inland Empire. Forklifts are in constant use to move billions of dollars of goods each year.
• UPS Distribution Center: Workers are also consistently using forklifts at the UPS Distribution Center on Kansas Avenue in Riverside.
• Home Depot Distribution Center: Home Depot remains one of the largest suppliers of construction materials across California and the United States. Many of the objects being moved, including lumber, are incredibly heavy and necessitate the use of industrial forklifts.
• Riverside Steel, Inc: Forklifts are consistently used at this location to move heavy beams and other raw materials. It would be completely impractical to move most of these items without heavy machinery.
• Riverside Downtown Arts & Innovation District: This area is well known for its restaurants, galleries, and numerous public events. Delivery trucks and maintenance crews often use forklifts, which can create a hazard for pedestrians and visitors.

Riverside workers can face significant hazards when forklifts are nearby. One of the best ways to prevent accidents is to ensure that all forklift operators are properly certified and well trained. Employers and contractors must use reasonable care to ensure that OSHA regulations are followed and that job sites are free from known hazards. 

Why Forklift Accidents Are So Dangerous

Operating a forklift is substantially more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle. This is particularly true when forklift operators are transporting heavy loads. These loads can make the forklift more unstable and obstruct a driver’s view. Here are just a few of the reasons that forklifts can be particularly dangerous.

• Weight Distribution: Forklifts weigh several times more than a typical car. If they are driven too fast or turned sharply, this can easily cause them to tip over and potentially crush drivers or bystanders.
• Pedestrian Proximity: Forklifts are consistently used in crowded warehouses and loading docks. This puts pedestrians in close proximity during most of their use. Blind spots around corners and unsafe practices can easily contribute to collisions.
• Falling Loads: The pallets and other materials that forklifts transport are typically not anchored down. They are susceptible to falling if a forklift stops too quickly or moves too sharply around corners.
• Stopping Distance: It can take forklifts a while to stop at high speeds. This creates the risk that pedestrians can be hit or crushed in confined spaces. 

Complacency is a major contributing factor in many forklift accidents. Drivers with experience operating forklifts may begin to underestimate the risks of operating these vehicles the longer that they work with them. Oversight is essential to ensuring that safety guidelines are consistently being followed. 

Common Injuries Associated With Forklift Accidents

Like all heavy machinery, forklifts have the capacity to cause severe and traumatic injuries. According to OSHA, “the number one cause of lift truck related work fatalities is pedestrians being struck by the vehicle. The second leading fatal event associated with lift trucks is when the vehicle overturns (tip over).” There are many serious injuries commonly associated with forklift accidents.

• Crush Injuries: The weight of a forklift tipping over on the driver or bystander can cause severe crush injuries that may result in asphyxiation.
• Fractures: A rollover or tip-over accident can cause drivers to be ejected. This can lead to numerous fractures.
• Head Injuries: Being knocked to the ground by a forklift can cause skull fractures and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
• Spine Injuries: Spine and back injuries are among the most serious trauma that a person can suffer in a forklift accident. They can lead to temporary or even permanent paralysis.
• Organ Damage: Much of the physical damage from forklift accidents will not be outwardly obvious. The blunt force trauma of being hit by a heavy forklift can cause major damage to a person’s spleen, liver, intestines, and other internal organs. 

Even after the physical damage caused by a forklift accident heals, many victims are left with long-term psychological trauma. This can manifest through recurring nightmares, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. A Riverside forklift accident lawyer can take into consideration all of the ways that you’ve been injured to help maximize the compensation that you recover.

Liability for Riverside Forklift Accidents

When a worker is injured or killed in a forklift accident, they or surviving family members will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. Workers’ compensation in California is based on a no-fault insurance plan. Workers are entitled to receive compensation regardless of how an accident took place. In addition to workers’ compensation, an injured worker may be able to pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any forklift accident.

• Equipment Manufacturer: The company that manufactured a forklift could be liable for an incident if it was caused by a design defect. This includes situations where a forklift lacks adequate safety features, such as rollover protection structures (ROPS).
• Maintenance Contractors: Forklifts must be periodically inspected to operate safely. If a maintenance contractor failed to perform inspections for safety parts, they could be legally responsible for a mechanical failure that caused a forklift accident.
• General Contractor: General contractors or site operators have a legal obligation to maintain worksites in a reasonably safe condition. They could face liability for a forklift accident if it was due to unsafe scheduling or a lack of proper traffic controls.
• Subcontractor: The company responsible for operating the forklift could face legal responsibility for an accident if they are part of a separate entity from the injured victim.

If the victim of any accident was not a worker, they will typically have more options in terms of being able to pursue injury claims. Forklift accidents are often highly complex events. The factors that contribute to any collision can take place hours or even weeks beforehand. It is important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by experienced legal counsel. An investigation can help reveal all of the parties that could be legally responsible. 

What to Do After a Riverside Forklift Accident 

Being injured by a forklift can be completely disorienting. Victims may sustain traumatic injuries that impair their ability to work or even live normal lives. Any person injured in a Riverside forklift accident should take certain actions to protect their well-being and legal rights. 

• Medical Attention: Even minor pain after an accident can hide serious underlying injuries. Victims should seek medical attention as early as possible to help understand the full extent of their injuries.
• Report the Accident: Forklift accidents should be reported to a supervisor or site manager early on. This will help create an official record of what happened.
• Document the Scene: The scene of the accident should be well documented with photos. These photos can help reveal any visible hazards that may have contributed to the incident.
• Keep Documents: Victims should keep copies of everything related to the accident. This will include medical bills, company communication, and accident reports.
• Legal Guidance: Contacting an experienced Riverside forklift accident attorney is an important part of being fairly compensated for your injuries and lost wages.

There is a tremendous peace of mind that comes with having an experienced attorney handle your case. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of hiring an attorney is that they do not charge anything up front. They are paid entirely on a contingency fee basis. In other words, they receive their compensation entirely from the other party’s insurance provider if they are able to resolve your case. 

How Our Riverside Forklift Accident Attorneys Can Help 

Being injured in a forklift accident can be completely overwhelming and frustrating. Insurance providers are virtually never helpful after a serious accident. They are incentivized to pay victims as little as possible or nothing at all. What follows are just a few of the ways that our Riverside forklift accident lawyers can help after you’ve been injured. 

• Investigation: Our legal team can conduct a thorough investigation to help determine exactly what went wrong. We will review surveillance footage, OSHA records, work records, and much more.
• Identify Liable Parties: We will identify all liable parties that may have contributed to your accident so that there is ample insurance coverage to help pay for your injuries.
• Insurance Negotiations: We will handle all negotiations with insurance providers so that you are able to focus on your own recovery, not mountains of paperwork. 
• Maximize Compensation: Our attorneys will pursue the maximum compensation for your injuries through skilled advocacy. If insurance providers are not willing to offer a fair settlement, we are more than prepared to take every case to trial. 

Our law firm is committed to the idea that all workers deserve to operate in a safe environment. No person should ever have to choose between their physical well-being and keeping their job. When workers are injured, our team can make sure that you are aware of all your legal options so that you can make an informed decision on how you want to proceed. 

Getting Legal Help With a Forklift Accident Claim

Samer Habbas & Associates is one of the most well-respected and accomplished personal injury firms in Riverside County. We have recovered over $380 million for accident victims across California. This includes numerous 7-figure and 8-figure verdicts and settlements. In fact, we recovered a $1.7 million settlement for a maintenance mechanic injured in a forklift accident. We fight so that you can recover.  

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Riverside County forklift accident? Our forklift accident attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that accident victims get the support and justice that they are owed under the law. You don’t have to simply take our word for it. Just read some of the dozens of five-star reviews from former clients we’ve helped over the years. When you hire our firm, there are absolutely no out-of-pocket fees. We get paid entirely through the other party’s insurance provider if we are able to successfully resolve your case. You can contact us today for a risk-free case evaluation at 949-727-9300.

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